VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00420
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00420
Petitioner: Cortney Ball
Filed: 2024-12-04
Decided: 2025-01-02
Vaccine: Tdap
Vaccination date: 2020-03-24
Condition: Guillain Barré syndrome, Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, and anxiety
Outcome: dismissed
Award amount USD: 

AI-assisted case summary:
Cortney Ball filed a petition on December 4, 2024, alleging Guillain Barré syndrome, Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, and anxiety after receiving a Tdap vaccine on March 24, 2020. After the claim was activated in 2024, the respondent was given a deadline to file a Rule 4(c) Report by January 3, 2025. However, on November 26, 2024, the petitioner filed a Motion for a Decision Dismissing Petition. The court treated this as a voluntary dismissal under Rule 21(a)(1)(A) because the respondent had not yet filed his report. Accordingly, the case was dismissed without prejudice, and no judgment on the merits was issued.

Theory of causation field:
unclear

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00420-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-01-02
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 12/04/2024) regarding 40 Order Concluding Proceedings. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (mva) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:23-vv-00420-UNJ Document 41 Filed 01/02/25 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 23-420V
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*
CORTNEY BALL, also known as *
COURTNEY LESTER, * Chief Special Master Corcoran
*
Petitioner, * Filed: December 4, 2024
*
v. *
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND *
HUMAN SERVICES *
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
ORDER CONCLUDING PROCEEDINGS
On March 27, 2023, Cortney Ball filed a petition for compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.1 Petitioner alleged that she suffered Guillain Barré
syndrome, Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, and anxiety after receiving the
Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis vaccine on March 24, 2020. Petition (ECF No. 1) at
1. After the claim’s activation in 2024, a deadline was set for Respondent to file his Rule 4(c)
Report by January 3, 2025. However, on November 26, 2024, Petitioner filed a Motion for a
Decision Dismissing Petition. See Motion, dated Nov. 26, 2024 (ECF No. 39).
Petitioner has characterized her dismissal request as arising under Vaccine Rule 21(b). See
ECF No. 39 (docket entry title). But because Respondent has not filed his Rule 4(c) Report, the
motion is properly treated as one seeking voluntary dismissal under Rule 21(a)(1)(A), and I do so.
Accordingly, this case is dismissed without prejudice. This Order hereby notifies the
Clerk of the Court that proceedings “on the merits” of this Petition are now concluded, but
no judgment “on the merits” pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11 for purposes of Section 21(a) of
the Act shall issue.
1 The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660,
100 Stat. 3755 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2012)) (hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”).
All subsequent references to sections of the Vaccine Act shall be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa.

Case 1:23-vv-00420-UNJ Document 41 Filed 01/02/25 Page 2 of 2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master